Grateful: Joe McElderry has thanked fans for their support after his revelation
X Factor winner Joe McElderry has revealed that he is gay, after hackers who broke into his account outed him on the internet.
The 19-year-old hit singer's sexuality was revealed as a joke on the social networking website Twitter, where it persuaded him to come out about his true feelings.
One message posted by the hackers read, 'It's been difficult living a lie for so many years...'
But after the initial shock subsided Geordie Joe felt encouraged to open up about his sexual orientation.
On his official website, he said: 'I have always been a very honest person and so it is important for me to continue to be honest.
'It has been the most amazing year so far and I feel so privileged. It’s also been a time of real self realisation and I feel as if I have grown up so much in these few months.
'There has been speculation about my sexuality in the past and I have always been honest at the time I have been asked.
'Over the past few weeks I have really had time to reflect and to realise who I am. I spoke to my friends and family about this in the last few days and it was important to do the same for you all as you have been so supportive.
'I have had nothing but support from you and many of you have been very open in saying that you will continue to support me whatever my sexuality. It is important to me to let you know first, so that you know the stories in the papers are true. I made the choice to speak openly about this.'
He added: 'Everything is going well and I’m really happy to be able to move forward from here.'
Joe says he was angry at the Twitter hackers at first but then looked at their message and thought 'Well, they're not that far from the truth.
Victorious: Joe with his mentor Cheryl Cole on The X Factor in 2009
'I think the Twitter thing was the point when I realised I was gay,' he told The Sun.
Joe who won The X Factor in 2009, with Cheryl Cole as his mentor, only disclosed his sexuality to his mother last week on a train journey from Newcastle to London.
'I'm feeling good about it, it's liberating. Now I can just get on with my life,' he said.
Joe, who had a girlfriend for three years while at school, says he has only begun thinking about his sexuality in the last few weeks.
'I thought "Actually, my feelings have changed - this is how I feel now." The penny has dropped,' he said.
He reveals he kissed a boy before going on the X Factor but says he never thought more about it until recently.
X factor boss Simon Cowell was one of the first to phone and offer his support after Joe broke the news to record chiefs at his label Syco earlier this week, Joe said.
At work: Joe with U.S. record producer Dallas Austin working on his debut album
And comedian Alan Carr voiced his support on his Twitter page, saying: 'Good on Joe McElderry coming out!! I feel like i should send him a starter pack or something.'
Joe later took to his own Twitter to thank fans for their support, writing: 'Hey guys, thank you so much for your amazing and overwhelming support. You’re all fantastic! x'
Joe, from South Shields in Tyneside, was the first X Factor winner since the competition began not to bag the Christmas No1 spot after an internet campaign for Rage Against the Machine.
His cover of Miley Cyrus's The Climb was beaten into the second slot by 50,000 sales ever in a backlash at the show's stranglehold on the chart.
The teenager beat Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon in the final, during which he sang with George Michael, to win a recording contract worth £1million.
His coming out echos original Pop Idol winner Will Young, who revealed he was gay after triumphing in the competition.
Joe has kept a low profile since winning the competition, sparking fears he could end up on the scrapheap like former winner Leon Jackson.
But he is working on his debut album and has recently been recording in the U.S. with top producer Dallas Austin.
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